Basic Plant Family ID

look at the FLOWER & note:

- # of sepals, petals, stamen, pistils (K/ calyx, C/ corolla, A/ androecium, G/ gynoecium)

- COMPLETE (all KCAG present) or INCOMPLETE (missing KCAG)

- PERFECT (bisexual), or IMPERFECT (unisexual- monoecious/ dioecious)

- REGULAR (actinomorphic, w/ radial symmetry) or IRREGULAR (zygomorphic, w/ bilateral symmetry)

- OVARY: INFERIOR (epigynous) or SUPERIOR (hypogynous/ perigynous)

- INFLORESCENCE (solitary, head, spike, raceme, panicle, umbel, corymb, cyme)

look at the LEAVES & note:

- leaf ARRANGMENT (opposite, alternate, whorled, basal)

- leaf TYPE (simple/ compound pinnate/ palmate/ ternate)

- leaf VEINATION (arcuate, palmate, parallel, pinnate, reticulate)

- leaf MARGIN (entire, toothed, incised, lobed)

- leaf tip, base, stem, surface

Aster family (Asteraceae)

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many individual florets packed together tightly makes a COMPOSITE FLOWERHEAD:

- DISC FLOWERS forms a pitted central disc

- RAY FLOWERS ring the edge, usually with showy petals

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2^nd most common flowering plant family in the world

(1rst place goes to the Orchid family, due to their prevalance in the tropics)

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IE. Dandelion, Artemisias, Yarrow, Lettuce

Mint family (Lamiaceae)

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- square stalks

- alternating opposite leaves

- aromatic

- irregular flowers

- common useful kitchen herbs!

.

IE. Sages, Rosemary, Basil

Mustard family (Brassicaceae)

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- 4 petals

- 4 sepals

- 6 stamen (4 tall, 2 short)

- pungent

- seedpod staircase (fat silicles, or long siliques)

.

IE. Kale, Cabbage, Broccoli

Rose family (Rosaceae)

.

- 5 separate petals

- 5 sepals

- numerous stamen

- numerous pistils (creates a fuzzy-looking center)

- serrated compound leaves

.

IE. Strawberries, Apples, Almonds

Nightshade family (Solanaceae)

.

- 5 united petals

- 5 united sepals

- 5 stamen

- superior ovary with 2 chambers

- alternating leaves (often sticky, Earthy-smelling)

- alkaloid- rich

.

IE. Peppers, Datura, Eggplant, Tomato

Mallow family (Malvaceae)

.

- alternate, palmately lobed leaves

- numerous fused stamen form a column around the pistil

- 5 separate petals

- 3-5 partially united sepals

- mucilaginous (slimy)

- funnel- shaped regular flowers

- superior ovary with united carpels that creates “cheeses”

.

IE. Okra, Cotton, Hollyhocks, Cacao, Linden

JilingLin.com

Botany 1.5: Intro to Plant Families

Botany 1.5: Intro to Plant Families

Jiling Lin (2017)

www.LinJiling.blogspot.com

get this as a PDF here 

9 common herbaceous plant families:

-        Asteraceae

-        Brassicaeae

-        Lamiaceae

-        Apiaceae

-        Fabaceae

-        Rosaceae

-        Malvaceae

-        Solanaceae

-        Ranunculaceae

4 common tree families:

-        Pinaceae

-        Fagaceae

-        Betulaceae

-        Salicaceae     

      

      (I would like to add photos to this one day, but this handout is meant to accompany a class with live plants. Go meet your local herbalists and botanists!) 

~

9 Plant Families

Asteraceae (Aster family)

Infl: head, with ray (irregular) and/ or disk flowers (regular, 5-merous), usu subtended by involucre of bracts (phyllaries)

K: absent, or with pappus/ bristles/ awns/ scale

C: 5 fused petals

A: 5 fused stamen

G: inferior

Ex: Achillea, Echinaceae, Calendula, Arnica, Arctium, Artemisia, Taraxacum, Inula, Matricaria…

Brassicaeae (Mustard family)

K: 4 sepals
C: 4 petals

A: tetradynamous (4 long, 2 short)

G: superior, with 2 united carpels

Fruit: dry pod, usu dehiscent: Silique/ silicle

Ex: Brassica (Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale, Bokchoy, Turnip), Radish, Horseradish…

Lamiaceae (Mint family)

K: 5-lobed or cleft, regular or bilabiate. 5 united sepals

C: irregular (bilabiate/ 2-lipped); 5 united petals

A: 4 (usu didynamous)

G: superior. 2 united carpels
Lvs: opposite, aromatic

Stems: square

Fruit: capsule with 4 smooth nutlets

Ex: Mentha, Scutellaria, Lavandula, Salvia, Stachys, Leonurus, Melissa, Ocimum, Nepeta, Monarda…

Apiaceae (Carrot family)

Infl: simple/ compound umbel

K: small, scale-like, 5, or none

C: 5 petals

A: 5 stamen

G: inferior, with 2 united carpels, 2 styles. 
Stem: hollow between nodes

Lvs: pinnately compound

Fruit: indehiscent, hard schizocarp, usu oily/ aromatic

Ex: Ligusticum, Foeniculum, Angelica, Centella, Osmorhiza, Daucus, Conium, Heracleum…

Fabaceae (Pea family)

C: irregular, papilonaceous: banner, wings, keel (5 united sepals)

Lvs: pinnately compound

Fruits: dehiscent pea-like pods

Ex: Trifolium, Astragalus, Glycyrrhiza, Medicago, Prosopis, Peuraria, Baptisia, Cassia…

Rosaceae (Rose family)

K: 5 separate

C: 5 separate

A: 5 to numerous stamen

G: perigynous. Forms a hypanthium (floral cup). Numerous styles.

Lvs: serrated alternate leaves with stipules. Simple, trifoliate, palmate, or pinnately compound.

Ex: Rosa, Crataegus, Prunus, Rubus, Potentilla, Fragaria, Agrimonia, Alchemilla…

Malvaceae (Mallow family)

K: 3-5 partially united sepals

C: 5 separate petals, regular

A: numerous fused stamen, forming a column

G: superior. Several united carpals.

Lvs: simple, lobed, alternate, often palmately lobed

Ft: schizocarp (cheeses)

Ex: Malva, Hibiscus, Althaea, Theobroma, Sphaeralcea, Gossypium…

Solanaceae (Nightshade family)

K: 5 united sepals

C: 5 united regular petals

A: 5 stamen attached to petals 

G: superior, with 2 united carpels, 1 style, 1 stigma

Lvs: glandular/ sticky, alternate

Ft: berry/ capsule

Ex: Capsicum, Lycium, Solanum, Datura, Hyoscyamus, Atropa, tomato, potato, eggplant, bellpepper…

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family)

Variable: regular/ irregular, perfect/ imperfect

K: 3-15 separate sepals, usu showy

C: usu absent

A: numerous stamen; free

G: superior, 3-numerous simple pistils, usu with hooked tips

Ex: Anemone, Coptis, Hydrastis, Actaea, Clematis, Aconitum…

~

4 Tree Families

Pinaceae (Pine family)

Gymnosperm, with aerodynamically matched male and female strobili

-        Pine (Pinus): 1-8 needles sheathed together at the base

-        Larch (Larix): deciduous. Needles in spirals at branch buds

-        Spruce (Picea): sharp needles. Cones hang down

-        Fir (Abies): “furry” flat needles. Cones points up

-        Doug fir (Tsuedotsuga): cones hang down, with “mouse tails” between scales

-        Hemlock (Tsuga): short, flat needles attached by petiole

Fagaceae (Beech family)

Monoecious

K: 4-6 sepals

C: 0

A: 4-40 stamen (on staminate fls)

G: inferior ovary. 3 (sometimes 6) united carpels, and styles

Lvs: simple, alternate, toothed/ lobed

Ft: acorn-like nut

Ex: Castanea, Quercus

Betulaceae (Birch family)

Monoecious, with catkins.

-        Staminate fls:

K: 0-4 sepals

C: 0

A: 2-20 stamen

-        Pistillate fls:

K/ C: 0

G: inferior. 2 united carpels/ styles

Lvs: simple, toothed, alternate, pinnately veined

ft: nut or winged seed

Ex: Betula, Alnus

Salicaceae (Willow family)

Dioecious, with catkins

-        Staminate fls:

A: 2+ stamen

-        Pistillate fls:

G: superior. 2-4 united carpels/ stigmas

Ft: capsule

Lvs: simple, alternate

Ex: Salix, Populus

Plant Families: Chinese and Western Herbal Comparison Chart

I created an Excel list of commonly used Chinese and Western herbs, arranged by plant family, in an effort to better seek and observe patterns between both. You can edit the Google doc, so you're welcome to add or edit info, or just enjoy. As always, I would love your feedback. Please note that I'm just beginning my second (2 of 4) year of CM school, and so all of my CM understandings are still rapidly evolving, and quite basic. I'm still much more of a western herbalist. But, this list is straightforward. Thanks! Happy new year.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Pti6ZdabZ6y6cOtS2mcCOStI4GBlSkIcb82wC6PR65M/edit?usp=sharing